How Does The Latest ALDI PC Deal Stack Up?

ALDI has one of its periodic Medion PC specials tomorrow -- an AMD-powered desktop box with a 1TB hard drive, 4GB of RAM and Windows 7. At $499 it looks keenly priced, but could you do better elsewhere?

The $499 includes Windows 7 Home Premium and the starter edition of Office 2010, though it's worth noting the latter is the Word-and-Excel only version which you can often download for free anyway. Combined with good basic spec hardware, it's a solid offering if you need a desktop machine. (If you want a laptop, you can get a netbook-style device for a similar price, but you won't get this kind of processor or drive capacity.)

While you might not find this kind of deal in many other big brand retailers, you can sniff out similar packages. This model at iiBuy, for instance, is $449 and has the same basic specifications, though you'll have to up the price to cover a keyboard and mouse if you don't already have one.

Bottom line? It's a solid deal if you need a desktop sans monitor, but a cheap laptop could cost about the same and include a screen. If you do miss out in the traditional ALDI opening rush, there are similar models out there that won't cost you too much more.

Planning to hit ALDI and grab one of these? Tell us (and tell us why) in the comments.

There's this thing called capitalism, where consumers can choose what's best for them. Private organisations are allowed to complete against each other in the hope to convince consumers that their product is worth purchasing.

Just because you believe a netbook better suits your needs compared with this PC, it doesn't mean everyone necessarily agrees.

You've identified that I'm expressing an opinion. Well done.
There's this thing called reading comprehension, where the words a person writes are interpreted as written. "Most" and "on balance" are critical qualifiers which you seem to have missed. plz lrn2read kthxbai

"...includes ... the starter edition of Office 2010, though it’s worth noting ... is the Word-and-Excel only version which you can often download for free anyway..."

Actually this is no longer the case, as I found out a few weeks ago. Microsoft have removed one of the key files from their server for the batch set up wizard - so while you can download most of the required files; it won't install.

The starter edition of Office 2010 comes on almost all machines with Windows 7. There is no need to download anything from the internet. Although Office Starter does need installing, all the software required is already stored on the machine at the time of purchase. So just to clarify, Word Starter & Excel Starter still comes on all PC/Notebooks that have Windows 7 on as standard.

Try re-reading the article; Gus was referring to the fact that the Medion PC coming with Office 2010 Starter isn't a big drawcard because it can be downloaded anyway - the guide to which is hyperlinked from this story. This is the part I was referring to when I said it's no longer able to be downloaded and installed.

As far as Office 2010 Starter coming "on almost all machines with Windows 7" and "Word Starter & Excel Starter still comes on all PC/Notebooks that have Windows 7 on as standard" - that's half true
.
Office 2010 Starter is not a part of Windows7 and is loaded by the manufacturer separately where there has been a licencing agreement made between Microsoft and the manufacturer in question. While this includes pretty much every known brand of PC maker; if Windows has been loaded via a stock retail copy of Windows (as you'd get from a non-brand manufacturer) - then there's no Office with it.

Don't know why you're so down on this PC. I am currently using it to play BF 4 in 2014 using just the GFX card from the previous Aldi special and 2gb RAM from the same 12 month older Aldi special. You sir were wrong.

Timely article. Funny coincidence that it should come up the within a few hours of me leaving a question for 'Ask LH' on whether the Medion PC coming up at The Aldi sales this weekend was worth looking at as a media center to be connected to TV.

It depends how long you intend to keep it. I have a laptop that is around 3.5 years old and still going strong. Of course, I replaced it after two years and I only use it at work now, so as long as a machine lasts me that long, I don't really care. They are so cheap these days that you would just throw it away and buy a new one if it breaks, wouldn't you? In fact, I've decided to move to an annual upgrade cycle, laptops are so cheap. Then it will never be out of warranty.

While technically it IS dual graphics, in real terms it's using the APU's graphics and an underpowered, not-worth-being-there Radeon 6610 in crossfire mode. If you're going to get the setup you linked for gaming, I would waste the money. The Aldi special with a ATI Radeon 6770 would be the better deal though an i5 would kill either of them.

Got one for the wife. Running dual 23 Inch screens and so far so good. If it is any help straight out of the box it got the following windows score;
Processor 7.3
Ram 5.9 (Ouch)
Graphics 5.9
Hard disc drive 5.9.

Only has two ram slots. I took the two ram sticks out and stuck two 4 gig sticks in $75. Ram is now 7.3. Wife does lots of photo shop and video editing as a hobby ... the improvement was noticeable. New video card in a year or two this machine will last 3 + years! Just like the last few from Aldi.

i got a computer about 10 years ago from aldi and it came with heaps of software, it was the best the computer i ever had and tought me lots, and when it got a virus and started playing up i did this reboot thing it had which retored it to factory setting and it would work fine after that, but about a year ago some thin blew i to tired right now to remember what it was (graphic card?)but stupid me took it to a compute shop and they changed the part not long afer that it kept getting a error message so i just said good by to it with a tear in my eye,, i really miss it and all ths software it had please aldi bring back that old deal u had so many years ago and i be first in line

Wonderin if anyone could help at all. Ive been thinking of getting this for the last month as i really want to play Napoleon Total War. I was hoping for the game to run on high. I really have no knowledge of computers and any recommendations or advice on how to achieve the high settings would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks. Aarron.

Only logged in users may vote for comments!

Get Permalink

Trending Stories Right Now

Australia might not be renowned for its prowess in winter sports - we live on a bloody dry continent, don't we mate? - but we've got a strong contingent at this year's Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. Our prospects look pretty good, and there's always the chance one of our athletes pulls a Stephen Bradbury, too.
If you want to watch live, online and free throughout the Winter Olympics, then we've got you covered.

Yesterday, Google made a few changes to the way Image Search works, the biggest tweak being the removal of the "View Image" button they would take you straight to the image's URL. Now, all you'll see is "Visit", which navigates to the page on which the image appears. So, why did Google do this? A legal settlement with Getty Images basically.